Stumpy's Tubafore Contest Entry 2x4 Box

Very unique build- i’m new to the 2×4 box idea. Cool!

-- Don't anthropomorphize your handplanes. They hate it when you do that. - OldTools Archive -

It looks like you’ve made a good improvement on this one.

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Much better. You did learn something. That’s whatnit’s all about.

-- It's easy when you know how - but that's the hard part. Ontario, Canada

2×4 boxes.. pretty cool, will have to try that. There is a woodworking club a few miles from here, and every year they have a ‘2×4 Challenge’ whereby the members take a stand 2”x4”x8’ and make a project(s) with it. I’ve seen some results of what they make with a 2×4 and it is simply amazing. Congrats on a nice project.

-- LIVE, LAUGH, CUT WOOD.

You did a wonderful job

-- Norman - I never never make a mistake, I just change the design.

I have to say this is a huge improvement over the first, and really shows your picking this up quite quick, but nonetheless the both are pretty amazing when considering the origin so really nice job.

-- There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America. ~William J. Clinton

Cool box. I’ve got a 2×4 contest I need to make something for so maybe…

-- Shameless - Winner of two Stumpy Nubs Awards

I built a couple of boxes our of ripped-down 2×6 a few years ago. Since it was leftover material, I also had to go the store and buy some extra pieces to make things like the lids & bottoms. I don’t remember if I cut things to 1/2 inch, 3/8, or 1/4 inch thickness; probably 3/8”, as the boxes were about the size of the old G.I. Joe footlockers from my childhood (when GI Joe was the 12” figure), and I didn’t want the boxes to appear to be too flimsy.

One of the boxes that I kept (it holds my gun cleaning gear) I used min-wax oil based walnut stain, followed by their oil-based polyurethane. Because it is stained so dark, it’s really hard to see any imperfections in the poly. However, I’ve just finished re-building a display case, and I used minwax’s water-based poly as the finish. One of the best things you can do when putting on that poly, is to use the best brush you can afford! And to put the poly on, in thin coats – it dries faster, and is more forgiving on the brush strokes, and will reduce any sags. The biggest problem I had is with air bubbles popping up after applying the poly – some will disappear during drying, others don’t and to sand them down, well, I usually take off all the previosly applied coats of poly when I do that. However, i attribute the bubbles to the quality of the brush – I have a nice 2” sash brush that I use for most of my painting, but for the most recent project, I found the 2” brush was too big, so I used a lesser-quality 1” brush.

Don’t get discouraged using the polyurethane. Maybe you should get a can of their water-based product (because it’s easier to clean up!) and just practice on a piece of scrap, to see what techniques work for you.

Be careful on those old pallets – I’d hate to hear your tablesaw got caught up on a nail or screw that you missed.

I’m building some…I don’t know, boot inserts? – for a pair of my wife’s boots, so that they will stand upright, and not flop over. I’m using some old pallet material to make them, and I just ripped a 2×6 to get the whole thing to the right size before I start cutting the shape.

Good luck with everything!

Tim

That is a huge improvement over the first one! Fast learner. Now if you just put a “Shipwright Hinge” on the next one, you will have arrived! Keep up the progress. Try wipe on shop made poly or Spar urethane. It is more foolproof (not that you are a fool).LOL

-- " I'll try to be nicer, if you'll try to be smarter" gfadvm

Interesting project, I’d not heard of a 2×4 box before.

-- Dan - Valparaiso, Indiana, "A smart man changes his mind, a fool never does."

Looks great! Thanks for entering it in our contest!

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Very nice. And a great entry for the tuba fore contest.

-- Superdav "No matter where you go - there you are." http://chiselandforge.com

You did a great job on the box. Thanks for sharing it with us.

-- "Join the chorus if you can. It'll make of you an honest man." - I. Anderson

That is a nice looking box. That was going to be my project for the contest but my 2×4 had to much stress within.

-- mrg

It was geat fun and I am glad to meet you. Great entry.

-- Superdav "No matter where you go - there you are." http://chiselandforge.com